William David Arnold

Dr. William David Arnold, DVM passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, after a full 76 years of gratefully living, loving, and serving his Lord, family, friends, country and all living creatures both big and small. Services will be 2pm Friday, January 3, 2014 at Powder Springs First United Methodist Church with Rev. Roger Vest officiating. He will lie in state at the church from 1pm until the time of service. Interment will be Monday, January 6, 2014 at 12noon at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.

Dr. Arnold was an alumnus of Auburn University and owned Mableton Veterinary Clinic. He was a member of Powder Springs First United Methodist Church, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Former South Cobb Jaycees, Friendly Fellowship Class at PSFUMC, Paul Harris Fellow, Alpha PSI Veterinary Fraternity Alumni and was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps (1959-1962).

The family will receive friends at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory Thursday, January 2, 2013 from 2pm-4pm and from 6pm-8pm.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii to his parents who preceded him in death, William Moody and Netta Louise Pruett Arnold on November 25, 1937, Bill spent his childhood growing up on various military bases from Hawaii, to Alabama, to Germany, then New Jersey. While in Germany, he happened off the base and met his first best friend, a stray dog that he named Franz and brought home to make his own. This was only the beginning of his desire to care for God’s creatures that became his life’s calling.

Holding all sorts of jobs as a school kid from newspaper boy in Dothan to ice cream man as a teen in New Jersey, Bill saved his pennies and continued his formal education at Auburn University (Alabama Polytechnic Institute). On one of many college weekends, Bill went home with his roommate to Fairfield, Alabama where he met his roommate’s neighbor, a beautiful high school girl named Nancy Terry Brown. He took her to his spring formal; she took him to her prom. They kept their promise to hold each other’s hearts, for better or worse, for the next 54 years.

Dr. Arnold, affectionately known as “Doc”, moved his family to Georgia where he practiced veterinary medicine for 40 years until his retirement from his business, Mableton Veterinary Clinic in 2006. His heart for animals exceeded anyone’s lack of ability to pay for services at his clinic…..never turning an animal away that showed up on his doorstep in need of care, which is how his current sidekick, Odie became a part of his life. Even after retirement, he continued his ministry and life calling, leading the Blessing of the Animals at Powder Springs Methodist Church, his home church for 40 years.

Dr. Arnold and his bride enjoyed many adventures in their lifetime together – from raising 4 God fearing sons while Bill actively served in the United States Marine Corps and completed their own respective college educations to seeing the world on many trips both across the US and internationally with family and often their best friends, the Millers. Enjoying the great outdoors whether it was spent on weekends kayaking on the Nantahala or the Ocoee, riding his bike on the Silver Comet Trail, or daily walks with Odie, Doc never missed a chance to enjoy the moment he was in, a legacy he hoped to pass on to his family and friends. Doc could be seen wearing his bowtie on Sunday mornings singing in the choir at his home church, PSFUMC, for many years and frequently extolled his Auburn Tigers on Sunday morning from the Choir Loft depending on the previous day’s game outcome. A lover of music, he is remembered as having “happy feet” and loving to dance when a song he liked came on. Although he would never admit it, his giving heart touched the lives of many, as a good steward of his resources, either in the form of wise words, jobs he had available at his clinic that he could offer, or financial blessings at the right moment as he felt led to do. His life in the form of servant hood leadership touched the lives of many and was not in vain. Doc never met a stranger nor lacked for a story, joke, or even a bit of wisdom to share. Called “Papa” by his grandchildren, he was happiest when surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren with a glass of good wine in hand (which he never ordered by the color and was highly insulted when accused of doing so), knowing that all were under one roof even if only for a meal for a moment.

Dr. Arnold was a humble and faithful servant, and did not come to this world to stay, but has finished his task and gone home to live with his Heavenly Father.

Dr. Arnold’s legacy will continue through his survivors: his wife, Nancy Brown Arnold; his 4 sons: William David Arnold Jr. of Franklin, TN and his wife, Sharliss, Mark-Eric Cumberland Arnold of Marietta, GA, Henry (Hank) Louis Arnold of Canton, GA and his wife Shannon, and Constantine (Conny) Christopher Arnold of Kennesaw, GA and his wife, Heather; Sister, Jeni Arnold of Dothan, AL; 7 Grandsons: Will, Eric, Stephen, Christopher, C.J. and Adam Arnold and Brice Bostick;7 Granddaughters: Katherine, Terry, Zoe, Nani Grace, Sarah, and Emmi Kate Arnold and Anna Bostick; and one great grandson, Koltyn. He is also survived by Odie, Sparky, Danny, Bella, Bailey, Lizzie and Billy Bob.

Contributions can be made to the Campus Outreach and mailed to PO Box 43737, Birmingham, AL 35243 with Dr. William Arnold Memorial Fund #2055 listed on the payment. Contributions may also be made to the Cobb County Humane Society or Calvary’s Children’s Home.